Richard Nixon Administration:
Visit to Israel

(June 17, 1974)

At the conclusion of President Nixon's visit to
Israel, a joint statement stressed
the unique relationship between the two countries and emphasized America's
readiness to conclude long-term arrangements for aid
to Israel. Mr. Nixon also offered to help Israel build a nuclear
power station. Various joint projects in the spheres of science and
technology would be encouraged and cultural ties would be further developed.

The President of the United States, Richard Nixon, visited Israel from
June 16-17, 1974. This is the first visit ever to have been paid by
an American President to the State of Israel. It symbolizes the unique
relationship, the common heritage and the close and historic ties, that
have long existed between the United States and Israel.

President Nixon and Prime Minister Rabin held extensive and cordial talks on matters of mutual interest to the
United States and Israel, and reviewed the excellent relations between
their two countries. They discussed, in a spirit of mutual understanding,
the efforts of both countries to achieve a just and lasting peace which
will provide security for all States in the area, and the need to build
a structure of peace in the world. United States Secretary of State,
Henry Kissinger, and members of the Israeli Cabinet participated in
these talks.

Prime Minister Rabin expressed Israel's appreciation for the outstanding
and effective role of the United States in the quest for peace under
the leadership of President Nixon, assisted by the tireless efforts
of Secretary Kissinger, and indicated Israel's intention to participate
in further negotiations with a view of achieving peace treaties with
its neighbours, which will permit each State to pursue its legitimate
rights in dignity and security.

President Nixon and Prime Minister Rabin agreed that peace and progress
in the Middle East are essential if global peace is to be assured. Peace
will be achieved through a process of continuing negotiations between
the parties concerned, as called for by U.N. Security Council Resolution
338 of October 22, 1973.

The President and the Prime Minister agreed on the necessity to work
energetically to promote peace between Israel and the Arab States. They
agreed that States living in peace should conduct their relationship
in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations
Charter, and the U.N. Declaration on Principles of International Law
concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States, which provides
that every state has the duty to refrain from organizing, or encouraging,
the organization of irregular forces or armed bands, including mercenaries,
for incursion into the territory of another state. They condemned acts
of violence and terror, causing the loss of innocent human lives.

The President and the Prime Minister expressed their great pleasure
in the intimate cooperation which characterizes the warm relationship
between their two countries and peoples. They agreed to do everything
possible to broaden and deepen still further that relationship in order
to serve the interests of both countries and to further the cause of
peace.

President Nixon reiterated the commitment of the United States to the
long-term security of Israel and to the principle that each State has
the right to exist within secure borders and to pursue its own legitimate
interests in peace.

Prime Minister Rabin expressed his appreciation for the U.S. military
supplies to Israel during the October War and thereafter. The President
affirmed the continuing and long-term nature of the military supply
relationship between the two countries, and reiterated his view, that
the strengthening of Israel's ability to defend itself is essential
in order to prevent further hostilities and to maintain conditions conducive
to progress towards peace. An Israeli Defense Ministry delegation will
soon come to Washington in order to work out the concrete details relating
to long-term military supplies.

President Nixon affirmed the strong continuing support of the United
States for Israel's economic development. Prime Minister Rabin expressed
the gratitude of Israel for the substantial help which the United States
has provided, particularly in recent years. The President and Prime
Minister agreed, that future economic assistance from the United States
would continue and would be the subject of long-range planning between
their Governments. The President affirmed that the United States, in
accordance with congressional authorization, will continue to provide
substantial economic assistance for Israel at levels needed to assist
Israel to offset the heavy additional costs inherent in assuring Israel's
military capability for the maintenance of peace.

In the economic field, the Pesident and the Prime Minister note with
satisfaction the effective working relationship between their Governments
at all levels, and the depth of the relationship between the economies
of the two nations. They agreed to strengthen and develop the framework
of their bilateral relations. The primary goal will be to establish
a firmer and more clearly defined structure of consultation and cooperation.
Where appropriate, they will set up special bi-national committees.
Both sides recognize the importance of investments in Israel by American
companies, the transmission of general knowhow and marketing assistance,
and cooperation of American companies with Israeli counterparts on research
and development. The United States Government will encourage ventures
by American enterprises and private investment in Israel, designed to
increase Israel's economic growth, including in the fields of industry,
power, and tourism. They agreed to begin immediately negotiations for
concrete arrangements to implement such policy, including in the area
of avoidance of double taxation.

The President and Prime Minister announce that their two governments
will negotiate an agreement on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy,
technology and the supply of fuel from the United States under agreed
safeguards. This agreement will in particular take account of the intention
of the Government of Israel to purchase power-reactors from the United
States. These will secure additional and alternative sources of electricity
for the rapidly developing Israel economy. As an immediate step, Israel
and the United States will in the current month reach provisional agreement
on the further sale of nuclear fuel to Israel.

Prime Minister Rabin particularly expressed the view that the supply
of oil and other essential raw materials to Israel must be assured on
a continuous basis. President Nixon proposed that United States and
Israeli representatives meet soon in order to devise ways of meeting
this problem.

The President and the Prime MinIster stressed, as an important mutual
aim, the further encouragement of the fruitful links already existing
between the two countries in the scientific -and technical field, including
space research. Special emphasis will be put on exchanges of scientists
and the sponsorship of joint projects. With this end in view, they will
explore means to widen the scope and substance of existing agreements
and activities, including those pertaining to the bi-national science
foundation. In the area of water desalination, the two countries will
expand their joint projects.

The President and the Prime Minister noted with gratification the large
number of tourists from their respective countries visiting both the
United States and Israel, and affirmed that they would continue their
efforts to foster this movement. To this end, the two Governments will
resume negotiations on an agreement granting landing rights to the Israel
National Carrier in additional major cities in the Continental United
States. The President and the Prime Minister discussed the plight of
Jewish minorities. The Prime Minister thanked the President for his
efforts in support of the right of free emigration for all peoples without
harassment, including members of Jewish minorities. The President affirmed
that the United States would continue to give active support to these
principles in all feasible ways.

The President was particularly pleased at the opportunity to meet with
former Prime Minister Golda Meir, whose courage, statesmanship, patience
and wisdom he greatly admires. The President expressed his satisfaction
at the constructive cooperation between Israel and the United States
under Prime Minister Meir's leadership which had led to the conclusion
of the agreements between Egypt and Israel and between Israel and Syria
respectively on the disengagement of their military forces.

In departing, President and Mrs. Nixon expressed their deep appreciation
of the warm reception accorded to them in Israel and their admiration
for the achievements of the Israeli people. They were deeply impressed
by the manner in which the overwhelming problems of integrating many
hundreds of thousands of immigrants of many various backgrounds and
cultures were being successfully overcome.

The President gave him renewed assurance of the support of the people
of the United States.

The Prime Minister and the President agreed that the
cordiality of Israel's reception of the President reflected the long
friendship between Israel and the United States and pledged their continued
energies to nurture and strengthen that friendship. To this end, the
President invited Prime Minister Rabin to pay an early visit to Washington.